Work-in-Progress Wednesday: Thurlow Shorts

This is a new adventure for me; I’ve never sewn shorts or pants before. I’ve been reading the pattern over, reviewing the sew along over at Lladybird, and today I traced the pattern on to Swedish tracing paper.

The shorts will be for Martina but I have warned her there is a high likelihood that the first pair will not be wearable. The Sewaholic patterns are designed for the pear-shaped woman, which Martina definitely is not. According to the pattern she is a size 0 by the hips and 8 by the waist. This could be an interesting lesson in fit.

However, the Thurlow trousers are designed with an extension panel at the back seam which can be adjusted for a custom fit fairly far along in the process. So maybe this will work after all. I’ve decided to cut a size 4 and sew along the size 8 back seam line, adjusting as needed.

I have to admit I feel a bit in over my head when I see all the pattern pieces — 14 in all! I also underestimated the fabric needed. I was going to use the leftovers from the blue Hollyburn skirts I made for Martina and Esther but I’m not sure there will be enough. I’ll investigate tomorrow.